LEGO has announced a new system called Smart Play that will reach shops and online stores on 1 March 2026, starting with three Star Wars sets.
Smart Play is designed to make builds feel “alive” by adding lights, sounds, and quick reactions while children play.
The idea began in 2016, when LEGO asked children what they wanted most from their sets. Many said they wanted to build with friends and have toys that could respond and change during play. LEGO then spent almost ten years developing Smart Play to match those wishes.
At the centre of the system is the Smart Brick, a larger 5 by 10 cm brick with a computer chip, motion sensors, lights, and a small speaker inside. It can tell when it is moved and can recognise special pieces nearby. It can even notice the colours of LEGO bricks close to it, helping it choose how to react.
Smart Play also uses Smart Tags, which are small 5 by 5 cm tiles with unique digital codes. When the Smart Brick senses a tag, it can play matching sounds and reactions, like a dinosaur roar or squealing race car tyres. There are also Smart Minifigures, each with a code that lets the Smart Brick recognise the character.
By mixing the Smart Brick, tags, and figures, children can create stories that respond in real time. The first Star Wars sets will let fans replay famous moments, from lightsaber duels to space battles, with characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and R2-D2.
